Taking Chances (Pleasant Grove Book 1)

by Tara Lee

  She leaves me sitting there with the hardest cock I have ever had in my life, knowing this is my fault. she stopped. It’s a wonder she even let me kiss her with what I’ve done to her in the past.

  “I’m sorry I’m just—”

  “Baby, it's fine, I’m sorry. I should be able to control it but around you he seems to have a mind of his own.”

  She looks at me puzzled.

  “What?”

  “Did you just call me baby?”

  “I did, is that a problem?”

  “No, I like it.”

  She smiles.

  “Good, because I’m going to call you that all the time.” “Okay, I won’t stop you.”

  She blushes.

  “You’re so cute, you know that.” I tell her as she sits back down on the couch.

  “Thank you,” she says, crossing her legs as I kneel in front of her.

  “I have to go back to work, but we’ll talk more about us,” I say.

  She bites her bottom lip, in the way she does when she’s thinking.

  “So, you want us, to be a us?”

  I nod.

  She smiles back at me and the last thing I want to do is go back to work.

  “I’ll talk to you later, go back to sleep and I’m sorry for waking you.”

  I brush her cheek with my thumb and kiss her soft lips once more before I leave.

  Now it is my turn to moan.

  “Wish, I could stay here and kiss you all day, baby.”

  “Me too, but you need to get back to work.”

  She pushes me up.

  “You still need to buy new pyjamas,” I joke

  She laughs.

  “What’s wrong with the ones I have on?”

  “Sweetheart, how am I supposed to concentrate when I know you go to bed in these,” I say, slipping the thin strap off her shoulder, it gives me a peak at the curve of her breasts, her cleavage taunting me. I’m sure I’ll be hard for the rest of the day now.

  Her fingers stroke my chin as she sighs with content.

  “You should go,” she says, reminding me about my job.

  I lower my head and curse at Carter for keeping me from the one goal I want; to worship Charli day in and day out. I want to ravish her, but I know it will have to wait.

  If I kiss her mouth, I know I’ll never get out of here. It’s oh-so-tempting, but I settle for an innocent peck on the cheek.

  “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?” I ask.

  She nods but doesn’t say anything.

  “I meant what I said, Charli. I want you, and only you.”

  She smiles her beautiful smile one more time before I leave her standing in her doorway as I head back to my truck.

  After starting my truck and pulling out, I watch in my rear-view mirror as she still stands there watching me.

  I hope she realizes how serious I am.

  I want to take a chance for the first time in my life.

  Chapter 11

  CHARLI

  INEED A DRINK, SO I HEAD to the bar. After not hearing from Eli for two weeks, I can’t take much more. HE told me he wants me, and then disappeared off the face of the planet.

  Jake is working tonight. He has moved here from Ohio last year. He’s a nomad, and he hasn’t expressed any interest in staying here permanently. I think he has stayed here the longest, so he must like it well enough to stick around for a while.

  Aria flicks her hair over her shoulder, fluttering her eyes at him she is a flirt, guys flock to her and she uses that to her advantage.

  “We need shots, Jake,” she says, giving him her best flirty smile while leaning down, giving him a view down her dress. He winks at her and turns to get the shots. I roll my eyes at her. We don’t need to be drunk to have fun but maybe being drunk right now will help me.

  We knock back at least four shots each and head to the dance floor. The burn of the alcohol hits my throat, making me gag.

  That’s why I don’t drink.

  I’m pretty sure I’m already drunk.

  Neil, one of the bouncers, nods my way when he sees me. I give him a wave and smile at him.

  The dance floor is crowded and I’m dripping with sweat. I’m hot, but I’m having too much fun to care.

  We are about four songs in, shaking our booties, when Aria calls it. Justin Timberlake’s Can't Stop The Feeling starts blasting through the dance floor. I love this song.

  I definitely can't stop my feelings for Eli.

  The DJ is playing tonight. He plays weekends and its live music during the week. I prefer the DJ to the live music.

  The loud music and alcohol are draining all my thoughts of Eli.

  That is… until I turn, and see him.

  My stomach erupts with butterflies.

  The fluttery type where my stomach turns, making me sick.

  Where has he been?

  Even being as mad as I am, he still makes my body tingle. Just one look at him and his male perfection has me clenching my legs together.

  Eli never looked yummier then he does right now. He is wearing a blue fitted t-shirt that hugs his body so tight you can see his abs poking through. His jeans hang just right, perfectly on his hips hinting at what is underneath.

  The prominent V leading to his crotch where I know his massive manhood waits has me licking my lips, eager to taste him.

  His lips have always looked like he knew how to kiss. I now know Eli’s kisses have the power to unravel me, to make me forget everything but him. He’s damn good at sending a girl into pure ecstasy just by pressing his lips against hers, and he knows it. Eli’s kisses unravel me and make me forget everything but him.

  I want to feel that way again.

  I’m just not sure if it’s because I am a little drunk.

  Okay, I think when I stumble into Aria with a laugh, a lot drunk.

  I make my way up to Eli. He is heading towards the table talking to Carter, Lucas and Jensen.

  Holy crap, my brother is here.

  Abort mission, Charli, ABORT.

  I try to turn and run but it's too late, Jensen sees me and give me a stern look that says he isn’t happy.

  “Hey,” I say.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Charlotte? Are you drunk?”

  Jensen all but screams at me, making me feel like a child in trouble.

  “Hey dude, calm down, no need to yell at her.” Eli says in my defence.

  “Shut up Eli, it's none of your business,” Jensen says, putting his hand up to stop Eli from interrupting. “She is my sister, I don't need you butting your nose in.”

  Eli frowns at Jensen. He hates when Jensen speaks to me like a child.

  “Back off, dude. I understand you think you have the right to tell her what to do because you're her brother. But there’s no need to speak to her like that,” Eli says.

  Jensen's face has overprotective big brother written all over it. It’s the one I always knew after we lost our father, and the same person who stepped up when we didn’t have parents anymore.

  “Not your goddamn business. Eli, back the fuck off. Stay out of it. Unless you want to get into it right now, let me deal with my sister.”

  Eli looks at me, giving me an apologetic look. At least he had tried.

  “What the hell, Charli? How much have you had to drink? Are you here alone? You can barely stand.”

  That's too many words at once for me in this fuzzy state. I don’t catch everything Jensen says. As if they can tell I need to be rescued, the girls come up behind me, greeting my brother.

  They start to say to Jensen I was with them, and we were all dancing and just having fun. The only problem is that my friends are drunker than I am. It only makes Jensen angrier.

  “SERIOUSLY?” Jensen says, throwing his hands in the air. “You are all so drunk you can barely stand, what if someone took advantage of you?”

  Always the protector.

  “Jensen,” I say

  “We are fine, we just had a few drinks to let loo
se and have fun. You guys are here now. I'm sure you will look out for us.”

  I smile at him and kiss him on the cheek.

  He seemed to relax a little. He can't stay mad at me.

  “Fine, just be careful, please,” he says.

  “We will," I promise.

  He and the guy’s head to their usual table and meet up with the rest of their friends.

  I to turn to head back to the dance floor, my eyes catch Eli's, he nods towards the back door. I'm not sure if he wants me to meet him there, so I point to myself, he mouths back, “YES”.

  What's going on? When did he move over there?

  I make an excuse to the girls and tell them I need to get some fresh air.

  Aria offers to come with me but I tell her, "No, it’s okay. Go back to dancing."

  As I walk through the back door, someone grabs my arm and pushed me into the wall.

  I scream, “Let go of me!”

  It is Eli

  I give his chest a light tap. “What the hell, Eli? You scared the hell out of me.”

  Before I can say anything else, he grabs me and pushes me up against the wall. His hard chest presses against my breasts; it feels so good. I can feel his arousal as he pushes his groin against me.

  God, he feels so good.

  It goes around and around in my head on a loop.

  The need between my legs is back.

  My breasts ache for his touch. He is as turned on as I am.

  I can feel every inch of his ripped muscular frame. No wonder girls fell at his feet like he was some sort of God.

  My nipples are as hard as his massive cock.

  I look deeply into his eyes and can see the passion he has for me in them, his intense gaze holds mine as he leans in and captures my lips as his tongue, swirling it around in my mouth. It should be illegal for men to look like Eli, women never stand a chance.

  His voice is like silk that wraps around me when he speaks.

  He continues to run his free hand over my body, roaming every inch of me, feeling my body like he craved it, I hold his other hand tightly in mine.

  I'm breathing heavy, I can feel my chests rising and pressing against him

  His eyes hold, still capturing mine. I feel like I'm about to fall from the heat between us.

  I can feel the wetness between my legs. I have never felt like this before.

  Being near Eli always made me wet but this was different, I can’t control my body.

  My breasts are aching, begging for Eli’s touch.

  My skin is crawling with goose bumps.

  My knees feel weak.

  This is way better than any dream or fantasy I have ever had.

  Eli felt better than he does in my dreams.

  His hard chest pushes against me and I shudder.

  “When you shudder like that all I can think about is burying my cock deep inside you,” he whispers.

  Oh my god

  “Please, touch me, Eli.”

  I am begging now, I need a release one only he could give me.

  “Fuck.”

  His voice is straining like it hurt him to talk.

  Am I affecting him like he is affecting me?

  Chapter 12

  ELI

  GRABBING CHARLI LIKE THAT WAS a bad idea. She slaps my shoulder after I release her.

  “What the hell Eli? You scared the hell out of me.”

  I have her pressed up against the wall in seconds. I see the passion in her eyes and I know she can see it in mine. I am losing what little control I have left.

  I can feel my erection was pushing against her.

  I want to take her right here.

  I can feel the heat rolling off her body.

  She is so fucking gorgeous, I almost can't handle her. I thread our fingers together on one hand while I run my

  other hand over her perfect body.

  She has seemed to have sobered up a bit.

  “Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to get you

  alone,” I say.

  “Why?” she asks, through harsh, laboured breaths. Jensen and I had never fought before. I think we are going to

  start now. He is going to hate me for touching his sister but I just can't be around her anymore and do nothing, I need to take a risk. I lean forward and reach for Charli’s face pulling her in to kiss her.

  She opens for me straight away; her luscious lips are so damn edible.

  I swipe her bottom lip with my tongue and give it a gentle bite. I hold her close as my tongue greedily takes hers.

  She grabs my arms while I pull her into me. My throbbing cock pushes into her stomach. It’s so hard, I think I’ll combust right here.

  She pulls away, breathless, as she looks up at me, even with her heels on she still has to look up at my six-foot-four body.

  She has that sexy look in her eyes, but also a hint of nervousness, like she wants me to go further but she’s not sure.

  I know she is innocent it pours off her.

  How is that possible? She is twenty-one. Why is she still a virgin? Has she chosen that?

  I want a taste, I can't help it, I want her and I want her naked, underneath me, begging me, moaning my name and falling apart when I touch her, just like in my dreams.

  “Eli,” she whispers.

  “Yeah, sweetheart?”

  “What are we doing? If Jensen or one of the other guys catch us, it won't end pretty.”

  She releases a breath.

  Her nipples poke through her dress, she wants this as much as I do.

  Fucking hell. My cock twitches.

  “I want this, don't get me wrong. I just don't think here is a good place for us to be seen together.”

  Her eyes fall to the ground.

  She is right.

  This is not the place.

  I crave her, but this needs to be done right.

  I press my forehead against hers and let out some deep breaths.

  “I just–I just.”

  I can't get it out.

  Fuck, man up, Eli.

  “What is it?” she asks.

  Her big green eyes stare up at me, waiting for my answer.

  “Charli, I think you’re fucking gorgeous. You’re the sweetest, most amazing, hottest, wonderful and sexiest woman I've ever known. When you smile, baby…I swear, the whole fucking universe lights up.”

  I am rambling, I somehow sound like I was a sixteen-year-old boy again, instead of the twenty-four-year-old man I am.

  “I care about you.”

  I can't say love. I don't want to freak her out but yes, I'm pretty sure I am in love with Charlotte. I always have been, but never admitted it to myself. I wouldn’t allow myself to act on it. I wanted to protect her from myself.

  “You care about me? Then why didn’t you respond to any of my messages, Eli? I haven’t seen you in two weeks.”

  Her voice breaks. She’s upset, and it’s me who has her upset, again.

  Shit.

  I push back from her and start to pace running my fingers through my hair.

  She doesn’t know I got a threatening call from an unknown number. I found out the number had an Alabama area code. I drove down there, trying to find this person, because I wanted to make sure they never said Charli’s name again. I came back with nothing, and still don’t have a clue who the person is.

  I’m not sure I want to tell her. I haven’t found anything, and I don’t want her to worry

  “I’m sorry. I had stuff to take care of, it kept me pretty busy,” I tell her as I run my hand down her cheek

  “Really?” She raises her eyebrows. “Is everything okay?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  “I really want to kiss you again,” I tell her I step closer to her

  “Are you just saying that to get in my pants?” she asks, releasing a nervous giggle.

  Wait, what? I know I sleep around a lot. I can be a jerk, but doesn’t she know how special she is.

 
; “No god, no, sweetheart. If all we do is kiss, I’ll be the luckiest man in the world. If you let me have that much, I’ll be okay. You mean that much to me, Charli.” I take a deep breath. “You're much more than just a fling, baby. You’re special, and I know it's taken me this long to see it. I’ve been waiting for you. I wasn’t sure if I deserved you—I always thought you could do better than me.”

  I tentatively reach forward and brush some hair from her face, skimming my hand along her cheek.

  Even after our talk, I’m still unsure about being a boyfriend. Maybe I’ll be terrible, but I need to believe we can do this together.

  She smiles, leaning into my touch. My whole world shakes. Damn, how does she do that? I’m weak where she’s concerned.

  It is like a halo has formed around her, she is an angel, sent to heal me. Maybe… just maybe, she can.

  I pull her to me again. I just need one more taste. She moulds into me. I love how she does that.

  I pull her bottom lip into mine, giving it a little nibble. She moans into my mouth.

  Fuck that is hot.

  My self-control is done. She is driving me insane.

  “When you shudder like that, all I can think about is burying my cock deep inside you.” I hiss.

  I really do want to be inside her, but I know she isn't ready for that. Not yet. I’ll get her there, though.

  We need to take this slow. Things between us have been so intense that she has me to a point where I’ve never wanted to be inside a woman so damn much. I could just blow, thinking about it. Her flushed cheeks don’t help matters. Neither does the way she is looking at me, batting her eyes, biting her bottom lip.

  “I've had a crush on you since I was sixteen. I think I've been in love with you from the moment you winked at me. You would always talk to me, even when you and all the guys were hanging out. I wasn't just Jensen's annoying little sister to you.”

  I knew this, but it’s nice hearing her tell me. Her confession somehow makes me see her clearly.

  “You have been in every fantasy I've ever had,” she admits, swallowing hard. Her heavy breathing pulls her breasts together with every breath. I long to touch them.

  Holy hell.

  I’m going to cum in my damn jeans, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m enjoying her cleavage, or because I think she just admitted that she fantasizes about us.

  “Baby, what are you saying?” I ask.